Biography
Freya gained her first experience of singing with a chorus when she joined the East Sussex Children’s Choir in 1994. By the time she reached secondary school she was singing in both Choir, A Capella group and regularly as a soloist of school plays and pantomimes. She was also singing with Young Eastbourne Operatic and Dramatic Society (EODS) and in 1999 played Hortense in The Boyfriend. She began singing lessons in 1997 at The Audrey Wickens School for music.
Her first experience of opera however came in 2000 when she successfully auditioned for Glyndebourne’s youth production of Zoë. Freya was the youngest member of the Zoë chorus and subsequent Oxford Television film of the same production. This opportunity led her to an array of exceptional opportunities. She became a member of in 2000 and stayed with them until she left for University in 2004.
With GYOG she toured to Scotland singing the solo in Caol-I and the part of Lucia in Fireworks, and to Barcelona to perform Ancestor in The Chalk. In 2004 she performed in Elemental at Glyndebourne itself, singing the part of Sam in Airheads. She also got the opportunity to attend a weekend course at The Royal Opera House. Her time with the Glyndebourne Youth Group has remained one of her strongest influences.
At the University of Exeter Freya took up a degree in Drama and Psychology but by no means put singing to one side. In her first year she took up a Performance module within the school of music and her singing lessons continued throughout her three years as an undergraduate.
In her final year, the University introduced the Music Scholarship and the Musical Director Marion Wood awarded Freya the full amount. This continued to pay for her lessons for the year but also gave her more performance opportunities. She played the lead in The G&S production of Princess Ida and became heavily involved in all the opportunities the scholarship offered. This included sessions on sight singing lessons how the voice works, as well as taking part in the scholarship performances and recitals. In her final weeks at University she played Belinda in the scholarship production of Dido and Aeneus.
Having finished her degree, Freya returned to Sussex and took part in The YES Singers workshop where she played a fundamental role in supporting the younger members and worked with the Choir Director David Lawrence and professional Tenor Darren Abrahams. Her singing tuition and theory lessons continue to advance her abilities.
As well as this long-term singing experience and buckets of enthusiasm and dedication Freya has also been heavily involved in acting. Most prominent parts from her early school days include Linda in Blood Brothers, Sharizad in Arabian Nights, Tess in Tess of The D’Urbervilles and The Wife of Bath in The Canterbury Tales.
Her Performing Arts AVCE gave her plenty of opportunities to perform interesting parts including Alice in Henry V, Phillips and Shitty Meg in Our Countries Good, Iris in The Birds and Sandy In Grease.
She learnt a great deal about theatre and performing throughout her degree yet because of its academic focus, Freya ensured she spent time getting as much acting experience as possible. She threw herself into the University Theatre Company and in her second year she was peer elected its President. She played several parts including Mrs. Pearce in Confusions, The Mother in Roberto Zucco, Princess Ida and The Nurse in Leah’s Daughters.
In 2005 Freya became a member of The National Youth Theatre after the two-week intensive summer-course she took part in the God Save The Teen Performance in Trafalgar Square.
This year she is setting up a small non-profit youth company to take part in The Shakespeare Youth Festival in March 2008. The company plans to perform The Tempest as an ensemble workshop and will heavily rely on music and singing.
Although Freya is young and only just setting out for her professional career she diligently commits to every task she undertakes. Her passion for singing and acting is palpable in her enthusiasm and dedication and she is always willing to work exceptionally hard to maintain her own and others professional standards.